“Nope. They sure can’t, and besides, they know you. They know this town.”
As they kept on walking, they were joined by other Half Moon Key residents who were walking to the lake.
“Let’s be honest,” Alana Wixx said from under her huge straw sun hat. “This is actually a good thing. There will be very few cars and traffic on Main Street. It’s actually better this way.”
“You’re right,” a deep male voice said, joining them with quick strides.
Jade greeted the sheriff. “Hey, Cohen.”
“Did you just really say that I’m right?” Alana gasped.
Cohen shook his head. “Don’t let it get to your head. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.”
“Hmm. Right, but see, I’m not a clock. Broken or otherwise. I’m a woman.”
At this, Cohen’s entire demeanor changed. His eyes darkened, and his back straightened, but Alana wasn’t done. She pointed said, “And this woman is very rarely wrong. Welcome to the program, Sheriff.”
“Excuse us,” Parker nudged Jade forward so she would increase her pace. His hand was pressed to the small of her back, and he tried not to react, but it was impossible. Being so close to Jade, hell, justtouchingher even in this chaste way, was intoxicating.
If Parker could find a way to nevernottouch her, he thought he would do just that.
As soon as they were out of shifter earshot … because the sheriff was a wolf shifter … Parker whispered, “I figured we’d let those two playfight in peace.”
Jade giggled. “Probably for the best. I feel like they need privacy for all their attitude.”
“Right?” he chuckled.
“You went fishing with Cohen, Mason, and Jack Hayes yesterday morning. Did the sheriff mention Alana at all?”
“Nope. Mason did, but I could tell that it’s not a subject that is up for discussion between the brothers. Jack felt the same, I take it.”
“Sore spot.”
“Something like that, yeah,” he agreed. “Though I did learn something interesting aboutyou.”
“Me?” she gasped, blushing deep.
“Yeah. I heard that when you went away to college, the people in town really didn’t think you would come back.”
“Oh. That. I was votedmost likely to leave Half Moon Key.”
“Any truth to it?”
She shook her head. “No. This guy I sort of dated in my senior year was the head of the yearbook committee. He did that as a really mean joke when I broke up with him.”
“Hmm, jokes aren’t mean. That was straight-up asshole behavior.”
“The ironic part is that he was the one who ended up leaving. He’s only ever in town for holidays.”
“Like Beach Day?” he asked.
“Yeah, sometimes. It depends. His parents still live in town. Actually, up until very recently, his dad was the principal at the school. His mom is the guidance counselor.”
He whistled low under his breath. “Small towns, though.”
“What about you?” she wondered, sidestepping the comment about small towns. “Did you get voted anything?”
“Doesmost likely to be revealed a serial killercount?”